Line printer device for duplicating machines



June 14, 1949. v w PETERSON I I 2,473,070

LINE PRINTER DEVICE FOR DUPLI CATING MACHINES I Filed Jan. 2, 1947 4Sheets-Sheet l fizz/enforfr'l c M Fairer-1507:

June 14, 1949; w P ER ON 2,473,070

LINE PRINTER DEVICE FOR DUPLICATING MACHINES Fiied Jan. 2, 1947 4Sheets-Sheet 2 I IQ N I] I [mm 1 V x l E \1 I 1 A Yul: I y I 1 z Q fig II "\l 1 1 1 y i I I l I l i g I 1 ll Q i I I 1 I 1 [111w I T L w \1 l ,1I I l X 1 '7 l i 1 Y Z}? d erz for: Q1 I Eric Mj eafizrson- W @"Mmzz/LINE PRINTER DEVICE FOR DUPLICATING MACHINES Filed Jan. 2, 1947 E. W.PETERSON June 14, 1949.

4 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 14, l 949.- w, TE 2,473,070

LINE PRINTER DEVICE FOR DUPLICATING MACHINES Filed Jan. 2. 1947 Y 4Sheets-Sheet4 Patented June 14, 1949 LINE PRINTER DEVICE FOR DUPLICATINGMACHINES Eric W. Petcrsonpspring Lake, Mich.

Application January 2, 1947, Serial No. 719,653 (01. 101-132) Claims.

The present invention relates to duplicating machines, and isparticularly directed to a novel device whereby so-called line printingmay be accomplished in a simple and effective manner.

Duplicating machines of the Hectograph and Multigraph type, usuallyemploying a drum and platen or pressure element for pressing copy sheetsagainst a master copy, are utilized to a great extent in making out thenecessary partial and complete copies of orders for construction inmanufacturing plants, assembly plants, and the like. For example, if weassume that a certain item is to be manufactured, it is customary'towrite up a production order on a master copy on which the heading willgive an order number, part number and name, and a great deal of otherinformation that is pertinent to that particular order. In the body ofthe order the various operations required to make up the item are setout on individual lines. In filling such orders it is customary to makecopies with the same heading information, but containing only thedescription of that operation (set out on a particular line of themaster copy) that goes to a particular department of the plant which isequippedto perform that particular operation. It is a great saving andconvenience to utilize the basic or original order master at subsequentperiods when one or more of the parts are reordered, or when all of themare reordered to fill a new production order. In such cases, however,the heading part of the original master is no longer appropriate,because the order number and other information is changed, therefore itis necessary to use what is termed a secondary master or heading mastersheet in combination with the body of the original order, thus insuringcorrectness insofar as producing that order is concerned. With thesubstituted heading master, the individual order copies for the severaloperations are made.v My invention, although not limited thereto, isparticularly advantageous in the making of copies using the new heading,or secondary master in combination with each individual line of theoriginal order master.

It is a purpose of my invention to provide a novel means for attachingand supporting a heading master in superimposed position withrespect tothe original master on the drum together with means for'causing step bystep shifting of the heading master with respect to the original mastercopy.

on the drum so that copy sheets may be impressed With the information onthe heading master and one or more lines of information from the body ofthe original master, This according to my invention is accomplishedentirely automatically by merely operating the duplicating machine inthe usual way after the heading master is applied. The device does notinterfere in the slightest with the use of the machine for making copiesfrom masters in the ordinary fashion.

It is a further purpose of my invention to provide in a machine of thecharacter described, a novel mechanism whereby step by step shifting ofthe heading master support and the original master supportcircumferentially of the drum with respect to each other isaccomplished.

It is also a purpose of my invention to provide, in a machine of thecharacter described, novel mounting means whereby heading masters may bequickly mounted in position to overlie an original master sheet on thedrum, and may be removed from the drum without in any way disturbing themounting of the original master.

The nature and advantages of my invention will appear more fully fromthe following description and accompanying drawings wherein a preferredform of the invention is shown. It should be understood, however, thatthe drawings and description are illustrative only, and shouldnot betaken as limiting the invention except insofar as it is limited by theclaims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a portion of a duplicatingmachine to which my invention is applied;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 22 of Figure1, but showing the parts in changed position;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1, but withcertain parts in changed position;

' Figure 4 is a sectional view taken .on the line l4 of Figure 2, andshowing the parts in changed position;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the duplicating drum and headingmaster mounting means showing a master sheet mounted on the drum and aheading master sheet mounted in position;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 66 of Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a modified heading master mounting;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary perspective View of afurther modification ofheading master mounting.

wherein master copies are formed in reverse upon a sheet with Hectographink, and the copies are made from this master by moistening the copysheet and impressing it upon the master copy on the drum. The so-calledwet process Hectograph duplicating machines are well known. and since myinvention does not concern itself with the details of the machine or ofthe moistening mechanism, only those parts of the machine directlyconcerned with my invention are illustrated in the drawings.

The machine has two side frames l and H between which the drum I2 ismounted for rotation. A platen roller I3 is arranged to cooperate withthe drum in pressing copy sheets against a master sheet 8 and a headingmaster 9 on the drum. A shaft l4 rotatably mounts the drum. This shafthas a collar 15 fixed thereon at each end of the drum upon which headingmaster supporting plates l6 and i! are secured to rotate withthe shaft.The shaft is journalled in the side frames l0 and H. One end of theshaft extends through side frame IO and has a crank arm l8 fixed thereonfor rotating it. Any suitable means, such as the common detent mechanisml9 (Figure 1) used for this purpose, may be provided for causing theshaft to stop each revolution at a definite position which is normallytermed at home position for the duplicating drum. This means theduplicating drum stops at the proper position to feed a copy sheet tothe drumso that it will engage the master sheet with the proper amountof margin at the head of the copy sheet. According to my invention thedetent mechanism I9 cooperates with the shaft i4 and arm 18 rather thanwiththe drum, because it is the stop position of the shaft that isimportant, and the drum itself is moved step by step with respect to theshaft carrying out the line printing.

The mechanism by which the step by step movement of the drum isaccomplished comprises a ratchet wheel '20 which is fixed on the drumend and a pawl 2| which is fixed on the heading master supporting plate16. The pawl is spring pressed toward engagement with the ratchet wheelby a spring 22. The pawl extends rearwardly from its pivot 23 on theplate It to form a stop pawl as well as a driving pawl. The stop pawlportion is indicated at 24. In the normal operation of the machine tomake copies from a master sheet gripped by the gripping member 25 of thedrum (Figure the pawl engages the ratchet wheel so that the drum [2rotates continuously in unison with the plate I6. A spring 26 is woundabout the hub portion l5 that mounts the'plate I6, and has one endhooked over the plate 16 at 21, the other end 28 being connected to theratchet wheel so that the spring tends to turn the drum with respect tothe plate l8 in the same direction as that in which it is driven.

In order to release the pawl 2 i from the ratchet wheel, I provide a pin29 on the pawl to engage a cam 30 which is provided on the side frame H]in position'to engage the pin 29 once for each rotation of the shaft 14.When the pawl is lifted from driving position on the drum, the spring 26will cause the drum to turn until the stop pawl 24 engages one of theratchet teeth, then when the pawl 2| is again permitted to move intoengagement with the ratchet wheel, the stop pawl is lifted and the pawl2| holds the drum. Thus in 'efiect the pawl 2| and the stop pawl 23 incombination with the cam 30 form an escapement mechanism whereby thedrum can be advanced step by step with respect to the plate l6 as theshaft i4 is turned. The cam 30 can of course be readily adjusted to moveit out of engagement position with the pin 29 so thatstepping operationdoes not take place. This adjustment is accomplished by means of acircular slot Ilia in the side frame it and a manually releasable screwpin 3! that is threaded into the pawl 30. By lifting the pin 31 the cam39 can be turned on its pivot pin 32 to move the cam face out of the wayof the pin 29.

The normal spacing employed in typewriting production orders is threelines to the inch, and the steps of movement of the drum afforded by thepawl and ratchet mechanism just described is such as to move the drumone-third of an inch for each step. The line spacing is of course thedouble spacing usually employed on typewriters which is the commonpractice in filling out parts descriptions on order copies hereinbeforedescribed. The cam 30 can be changed to make step by step movement asrequired, as for example inch, inch, or inch spacings.

The two plates l6 and H are adapted to have the heading master 9 securedthereon. One form of securing the heading master consists in providingsprings 3d and 35 on the plates 15 and I1 respectively, the plates beinggrooved beneath the springs as indicated at 36 (Figure 6), and theheading master 33 being long enough so that its ends can be placedbeneath the springs and secured in the grooves. The springs are weldedor otherwise secured at 3'! to the plates. I find that the common mastersheet paper used in duplicating by the so-called wet process usingHectograph ink operates quite well when used in this fashion. However,other means of securing'the heading master to the plates i5 and Hmayalso be employed.

In Figure 8 a modified form of the device for securing the headingmaster is shown. In this modified form a very thin plastic or metalsheet 38 extends between the plates 16 and H, and is removably securedthereto by headed members 39 on the plates and bayonet slots 4c in thesheet 38 so that it can be snapped on and off easily. Then a securingstrip ll offset at 42 so that its inner edge'is spaced from the sheet 38is secured on the sheet 38 to form an attaching device by whichtheheading master 9a can be secured.

Another form of mounting for the heading masters is shown in Figure '7.In this form the sheet 38 of thin plastic or metal connects the twoplates l6 and I! and is mounted like it is in Figure 8. The headingmasters 9b used in this case have a permanently tacky cement on the backthereof normally covered by a removable thin sheet. When the headingmaster is to be attached to the sheet 38, the protecting sheet isremoved and the heading master is merely secured to the sheet 33 by thecement. When the use of the heading master is finished it can be removedby stripping it ofi the sheet 38. A suitable adhesive-backed sheet forthis purpose is the product sold under the trade name Kum Kleen."

In order that the nature of my invention may be fully understood, theoperation in line by line printing will now be described in detail. Inthis type of line printing, a separate heading master is alwaysrequired. This shows the current order number, date issued, daterequired, etc. The only reason for any heading information on thepermanent master is for filing purposes. Since the heading and permanentmasters must have relative movement, and contain information whichcombines to make a complete copy, it is just as well to mount bothmasters in the machine, disable the line printing unit, run the requiredfull size copies using both heading and permanent master, and then bringthe line printing mechanism into operation to pick up the individualcopies.

The shield, in the case of Figures 7 and 8, and the arms or plates I6and IT, in the case of Figure 6, can have lines or other markings forlocating the heading master in proper relationship to the permanentmaster. These positions would remain constant as long as the forms werenot changed. Assuming that a master sheet 8 has been secured to the drumI2, the requisite copies have been run from this original master sheetwith a heading master 9 attached. The operator will first aline theadvancing edge of the plates I6 and II with the a var icing edge of themaster sheet already on the drum by manually adjusting the respectivepositions of the ratchet wheel and pawl. The manual adjustment isaccomplished by providing a stop pin 43 on the drum I2 and a restoringmember M on the frame I0.

The restoring member 44 is pivoted on the frame I 0 and is manipulatedby a handle 46. When the drum is to'be restored the member 44 is thrownover to bring the offset portion 41 thereof into the path of the pin 43.This holds the drum in home position. The pawl 2| slides over thesloping teeth of the ratchet wheel 20 until the heading master supportsare again in the position shown in Figure 1. The member 44 is thenreturned to rest position at the back of the machine. Alternatively anyother suitable means may be used to hold the drum stationary while theshaft is rotated to bring the plates I6 and I! up to original startingrelation to the drum.

A heading master sheet having the new data is secured on the plates I 6and I1, and a copy sheet just long enough to cover the heading masterand the first exposed line on the original master is fed to the machineand pressed by the platen roller into engagement with the heading masterand the top line on the original master so as to form a copy having thenew heading information thereon, and having one line describing a partwhich is to be utilized to fill the order indicated by the headingmaster. As the drum is rotated to make this copy the cam 30 trips thepawl 2| after the copy sheet has passed beneath the platen roller, andthe spring 26 causes the drum to rotate one step forward. Then the drumand the plates I6 and II when they stop in home position will bepositioned so that the front edge of the plates I6 and I! are at theproper place for feeding a new copy sheet, but the drum containing theoriginal master is one line farther advanced. The heading mastertherefore will cover the top line in the body of the original master,and when a copy sheet of the same length as before has been fed to themachine and the duplicating cycle is repeated, the new copy sheet willcontain the heading information from the heading master and the sec- 0ndline of information from the original master. The operation is continuedin this fashion until the copy sheet is made for each part listed on theoriginalmaster. The parts are then restored'to' the starting positionand additional copies are run if desired, in the same fashion. When thedesired number of copies have been made, the original master sheet canbe preserved as an original record. Whenever another order is receivedfor the same parts listed on the original master sheet, it is merelynecessary to type a new heading master and utilize the original masteragain to make the parts order copies.

From the foregoing description it is believed that the nature andadvantages of my invention will be clear to those skilled in this art.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a duplicating machine a master drum having means to mount a mastercopy on its surface, heading master supports at opposite ends of thedrum, means mounting the supports and drum for relative circumferentialmovement about the axis of the drum, said supports having means thereonto mount a heading master sheet over a portion of the drum in overlyingposition with respect to a portion of the master copy receiving surfaceof the drum, drive means to rotate the supports and the drum including areleasable drive connection between the drum and said supports, andmeans operable upon each rotation of the supports to release said driveconnection temporarily, and power means, acting while the driveconnection is released, to advance the'drum a short distance in thedirection of rotation with respect to said heading master mountingmeans.

2. In a duplicating machine a master drum having means to mount a mastercopy on its surface, heading master supports at opposite ends of thedrum, means mounting the supports and drum for relative circumferentialmovement about the axis of the drum, said supports having means thereonto mount a heading master sheet over a portion of the drum in overlyingposition with respect to a portion of the master copy receiving surfaceof the drum, drive means to rotate thesupports and the drum, springmeans connecting the drum and mounting means under tension tending toadvance the drum with respect to the mounting means in the direction inwhich they are rotated, an escapement mechanism controlling the advanceof the drum, and means to actuate the escapement mechanism each rotationof the mounting means to release the drum for an advance step.

3. In. a duplicating machine a master drum having means to mount amaster copy on its surface, heading master supports at opposite ends ofthe drum, means mounting the supports and drum for relativecircumferential movement about the axis of the drum, said supportshaving means thereon to mount a heading master sheet over a portion ofthe drum in overlying position with respect to a portion of the mastercopy receiving surface of the drum, drive means to rotate the supportsand the drum, spring means connecting the drum and mounting means andunder tension tending to advance the drum with respect to the mountingmeans in the direction in which they are rotated, an escapementmechanism controlling the advance of the drum, and means to actuate theescapement mechanism upon each rotation of the mounting means to drumfor relative circumferential movement about the axis of the drum, saidsupports having means thereon to mount a heading master sheet over aportion of the drum in overlying position with respect to a portion ofthe master copy receiving surface of the drum, drive means to rotate thesupports and the drum, spring means connecting the drum and mountingmeans and under tension tending to advance the drum with respect to themounting means in the direction in which they are rotated, an escapementmechanism controlling the advance of the drum, means to actuate theescapement mechanism once each rotation of the mounting means to releasethe drum for one advance step, and manually operable means to return thedrum and said mounting means to the original position.

5. In a duplicating machine a master drum having means to mount a mastercopy on its surface, heading master supports at opposite ends of thedrum, means mounting the supports and drum for relative circumferentialmovement about the axis of the drum, said supports having means thereonto mount a heading master sheet over a portion of the drum in overlyingposition with respect to a portion of the master copy receiving surfaceof the drum, drive means to rotate the supports and the drum including areleasable drive connection between the drum and said supports, meansoperable upon each rotation of the supports to release said driveconnection temporarily, and power means, acting while the driveconnection is released, to advance the drum a short distance in thedirection of rotation with respect to said heading master mountingmeans, and manually operable means to return the drum and said mountingmeans to the original position.

6. In a duplicating machine a master drum having means to mount a mastercopy on its surface, heading master supports at opposite ends of thedrum, means mounting the supports and drum for relative circumferentialmovement about the axis of the drum, said supports having means thereonto mount a heading master sheet over a portion of the drum in overlyingposition with respect to a portion of the master copy re ceiving surfaceof the drum, drive means to rotate the supports and the drum including areleasable drive connection between the drum and said supports, andmeans operable upon each rotation of the supports to release said driveconnection temporarily, and power means, acting while the driveconnection is released, to advance the drum 2, short distance in thedirection of rotation with respect to said heading master mountingmeans, said mounting means comprising a shaft rotatably supporting thedrum, plates fixed on the shaft at the ends of the drum and having theirouter edges provided with means to support a sheet havin heading masterdata thereon in position to extend lengthwise of the drum in proximityto the drum surface.

7. In a duplicating machine a master drum having means to mount a mastercopy on its surface, heading master supports at opposite ends of thedrum, means mounting the supports and drum for relative circumferentialmovement about the aixs of the drum, said supports having means thereonto mount a heading master sheet over a portion of the drum in overlyingposition with respect to a portion of the master copy receiving surfaceof the drum, drive means to rotate the supports and the drum including areleasable drive connection between the drum and said supports, andmeans operable upon each rotation of the supports to release said driveconnection temporarily, and power means, acting while the driveconnection is released, to advance the drum a short distance in thedirection of rotation with respect to said heading master mountingmeans, said mounting means comprising a shaft rotatably supporting thedrum, plates fixed on the shaft at the ends of the drum, and havingouter curved mounting portions positioned adjacent the ends of the drumsurface, and a thin heading master support connecting said portions.

.8. In a duplicating machine a master drum having means to mount amaster copy on its surface, heading master supports at opposite ends ofthe drum, means mounting the supports and drum for relativecircumferential movement about the axis of the drum, said supportshaving means thereon to mount a heading master sheet over a portion ofthe drum in overlying position with respect to a portion of the mastercopy receiving surface of the drum, drive means to rotate the supportsand the drum including a releasable drive connection between the drumand said supports, and means operable upon each rotation of the supportsto release said drive connection temporarily, and power means, actingWhile the drive connection is'released, to advance the drum a shortdistance in the direction of rotation with Iespectto said heading mastermounting means, said-mounting means comprising a shaft rotatablysupporting the drum, plates fixed on the shaft at the ends of the drum,and having outer curved mounting portions positioned adjacent the endsof the drum surface, a thin mounting sheet connecting said portions andhaving a mounting strip thereon for securing a heading master.

9. In a duplicating machine a master drum having means to mount a mastercopy on its surface, heading master supports at opposite ends of thedrum, means mounting the supports and drum for relative circumferentialmovement about the axis of the drum, said supports having means thereonto mount a heading master sheet over a portion of the drum in overlyingposition with respect to a portion of the master copy receiving surfaceof the drum, drive means to rotate the'supports and the drum, springmeans connecting the drum and mounting means and under tension tendingto advance the drum with respect to the mounting means in the directionin which they are rotated, means cooperating with the spring means toadvance the drum one step of predetermined distance for each rotation ofthe mounting means, and manually operable means for making said meansinoperative whereby to cause the drum to rotate in unison with themounting means.

10. In a duplicating machine a master drum having means to mount amaster copy on its surface, heading master supports at opposite ends ofthe drum, means mounting the supports and drum for relativecircumferential movement about the axis of the drum, said supportshaving means thereon to mount a heading master sheet over a portion ofthe drum in overlying position with respect to a portion of the mastercopy receiving surface of the drum, drive means to rotate the supportsand the drum including a releasable drive connection between the drumand said supports, and means operable upon each rotation of the supportsto release said drive connection temporarily, and power means, actingwhile the drive connection is released, to advance ERIC W. PETERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the file ofthis patent:

5 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,216,591 Hudson Oct. 1, 19402.387.740 Bradt Oct. 30, 1945

